Birds and El Niño Reading & Internet Activity


Rationale/Objectives/Purpose:
This activity helps students explore the connection between El Niño and birds.
Time Required:
20 minutes to two days.
Safety Issues:
None.
Materials:
Internet connection (optional)
Procedures:
Teacher:

          Copy the reading and questions below. Students may do this in small groups or individually.
Reading:
El Niño means lots of changes:  more rain in the central and eastern tropical Pacific area, lessened trade winds, less upwelling of nutrients along western South America's coast, and less fish in the region because there aren't as many plankton to start the food chain in the ocean. But what about sea birds? Are they affected by El Niño?

 
Take a moment and think of how sea birds might be affected by an El Niño event. Write down some of your thoughts.

 
Here is a web site that has information about El Niño's effect on animals.

 
http://www.atmos.washington.edu/gcg/RTN/Figures/RTN7.html

 
Consider the following simplified food chain:  Seabirds often feed on small fish. Small fish feed on zooplankton. Zooplankton feed on phytoplankton. Phytoplankton, tiny plants in the sea, make their own food from sunlight energy but they need nutrients too. When an El Niño event occurs, less nutrients are available to the phytoplankton off the western coast of South America. The birds find it hard to find food and cannot feed their young. The rising waters of an El Niño can also affect their beach nesting.
Assessment:
Questions
  1. Does warm water have have more or less nutrients than cold water?
  2. What type of organism makes up the base of the marine food web?
  3. How do you think sea lions are affected by an El Niño event?
  4. Do a search to find more information about El Niño and it's effect on animals.
  5. Write a report and make a poster explaining the relationship.